California CPA May 2023 | Page 18

If you ’ re employees are in the right jobs and you ’ re providing what they need … they ’ ll stay with you .
Changing Face of the Profession
considering our careers . How many people don ’ t even know what CPA means ? high school , maybe starting with personal finance and going from there .
AM : On jump-starting the Coolest Profession Around , I ’ ve noticed how powerful social media is ; seeing nostalgia , rebranding and reintroducing ideas to the younger generation — even before high school . I was thinking : Isn ’ t there anything accounting related ? Also , maybe firms could help start accounting clubs . There was no accounting club at our school . My friend and I ran around looking to find instructors ( we needed two ), and eventually , we became ambassadors for Rotaract .
JM : We need to start young . It ’ s part of the education process of helping people understand what we do , what our role is and
If you ’ re employees are in the right jobs and you ’ re providing what they need … they ’ ll stay with you .
how we help people . It would be valuable for high school students to learn about accounting . I took a couple of semesters of accounting in high school , and it helped me . There should be thorough introductions at elementary school , junior high school and
TD : I think we start at high school . It ’ s more about planting seeds . It ’ s more about giving people exposure to this opportunity .
In addition , we ’ re consultants ; we step in as personal advisers for clients — there are many aspects to what we do . I ’ m very happy to say that my firm is piloting a high school internship program this summer . What Jason said is exactly right on point in terms of getting people involved : the earlier the better .
When we look at the Coolest Profession Around , we want a positive perspective that really defines the true nature of what CPAs do . It ’ s about seeing our unique personalities and bringing our whole self to work .

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